Beverage filtering system

Abstract

A beverage filtering device wherein flavoring solids, such as coffee, tea, or herbs, are infused or brewed with fluids and then a finished beverage is filtered from the flavoring solids using a system of nested cups. The nested cups are pressed together during filtration to create a compact form that can serve as a beverage cup or beverage serving device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A beverage filtering system for preparing a beverage by steeping solid material in a liquid to extract flavoring therefrom and to filter said solid material from said liquid for drinking, said system comprising:
 an outer cup for steeping solid material in a liquid; 
 an inner cup, said inner cup being nestable within said outer cup and movable therewithin from an unfiltered position to a filtered position, said inner cup having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said inner cup has a bottom edge, and; 
 a filter releasably coupled within said lower portion; and 
 wherein said outer cup and said inner cup together form a beverage cup when said inner cup is in said filtered position for consumption of said beverage, and 
 a sealing member including a first seal, wherein said sealing member is sized and configured to substantially cover the entirety of the exterior of said lower portion, said sealing member being releasably disposed around said lower portion of said inner cup, said first seal providing a seal between said inner cup and said outer cup when said inner cup is moved between said unfiltered position and said filtered position so that any liquid in the outer cup moving into the inner cup must pass through the filter, 
 whereby, when said beverage has been prepared within said outer cup, said inner cup may be moved to the filtered position relative to said outer cup from said unfiltered position to filter solid material from said liquid for serving said beverage. 
 
     
     
       2. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said filter includes an upper surface, and wherein said upper surface has a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
       3. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said perforations are of a diameter to enable desired flavoring oils to pass through said upper surface without permitting particles of flavoring solids to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       4. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said perforations have a diameter in the range from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
       5. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said perforations have a diameter of approximately 0.4 mm. 
     
     
       6. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sealing member, said second sealing member being disposed around the upper portion of said inner cup, said second sealing member limiting the movement of said inner cup into said outer cup to said filtered position. 
     
     
       7. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of said inner cup has a bottom, and wherein said bottom includes a plurality of downwardly projecting studs, said downwardly projecting studs being provided to tear, compress, and otherwise compressively treat said solid material in said outer cup. 
     
     
       8. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said inner cup includes a removable bottom portion, said removable bottom portion facilitating the cleaning of said beverage filtering system. 
     
     
       9. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a lid removably securable to the upper portion of said inner cup. 
     
     
       10. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said lid includes a sipping hole and a vent hole. 
     
     
       11. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a lid removably securable to said inner cup for providing downward pressure on said inner cup for movement from said unfiltered position to said filtered position. 
     
     
       12. A beverage filtering system for preparing a beverage by filtering solid material in a liquid to filter said solid material from said liquid for drinking, said system comprising:
 an outer cup for containing solid material in a liquid; and 
 an inner cup, said inner cup being nestable within said outer cup and movable therewithin from an unfiltered position to a filtered position, said inner cup having an upper portion and a lower portion and including a filter within the lower portion, wherein said upper portion has a first diameter and said lower portion has a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter; and 
 a sealing member, said sealing member being removably disposed entirely around an external surface said lower portion of said inner cup, closer to the upper portion of the inner cup than the filter, said sealing member providing a seal between said inner cup and said outer cup when said inner cup is moved between said unfiltered position and said filtered position so that any liquid in the outer cup moving into the inner cup must pass through the filter; 
 wherein said outer cup and said inner cup together wherein said outer cup and said inner cup together form a beverage server when said inner cup is in said filtered position for consumption of said beverage, 
 whereby said inner cup may be moved to the filtered position relative to said outer cup from said unfiltered position to filter solid material from said liquid for serving said beverage. 
 
     
     
       13. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said lower portion of said inner cup includes a plurality of perforations, thereby providing said filter. 
     
     
       14. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said perforations are of a diameter to enable desired flavoring oils to pass through said filter without permitting particles of flavoring solids to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       15. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said perforations have a diameter in the range from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
       16. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said perforations have a diameter of approximately 0.4 mm. 
     
     
       17. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a second sealing member, said second sealing member being disposed around the upper portion of said inner cup, said second sealing member limiting the movement of said inner cup into said outer cup to said filtered position. 
     
     
       18. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said lower portion of said inner cup has a bottom, and wherein said bottom includes a plurality of perforations, thereby providing said filter. 
     
     
       19. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said lower portion of said inner cup has a bottom and side walls, and wherein said sidewalls, proximate to said bottom, include a plurality of perforations, thereby providing said filter. 
     
     
       20. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said lower portion of said inner cup has a bottom, and wherein said bottom includes a plurality of downwardly projecting studs, said downwardly projecting studs being provided to tear, compress, and otherwise compressively treat said solid material in said outer cup. 
     
     
       21. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said inner cup includes a removable bottom portion, said removable bottom portion facilitating the cleaning of said beverage filtering system. 
     
     
       22. The beverage filtering system as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a lid removably securable to the upper portion of said inner cup.